Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) Exam

Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) is the civil service of Karnataka State in India. The Karnataka Public Service Commission conducts various exams to recruit candidates for KAS and other civil services across the state of Karnataka.

There are four alternative answers for a question and for every incorrect answer given by a candidate 1/4th or 0.25 marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty or negative marking.

If a candidate gives more than one answer for a question the it will be treated as incorrect answer and a negative marking of 0.25 will awarded to that question.

If a question is left blank that is if no answer is given to a question there will be no penalty for such questions.

B. Main Examination: The Main Examination shall consist of written examination and personality test.

Written Examination:

Papers

Subject

Nature of the Paper

Marks

Duration

I.

Kannada

Qualifying

150

2 Hours

II.

English

150

2 Hours

III.

Essay

Compulsory

250

3 Hours

IV.

General Studies 1

250

3 Hours

V.

General Studies 2

250

3 Hours

VI.

General Studies 3

250

3 Hours

VII.

General Studies 4

250

3 Hours

VIII.

Optional Paper 1

250

3 Hours

IX.

Optional Paper 2

250

3 Hours

NOTE:

The Mains Examination is conventional type i.e. descriptive type and all the 9 papers are mandatory.

The marks obtained in qualifying papers i.e. in Kannada and English is only of qualifying nature. A candidate should secure a minimum of 35% in each qualifying paper as prescribed by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). The marks obtained in these two papers will be not considered in the final selection or merit. Candidates who fail to secure the minimum qualifying marks will not qualify for the next stage of the exam.

The question papers are set in both Kannada and English. A candidate may answer the papers either in Kannada or English entirely.

The questions asked in the main examination papers are of degree level except the qualifying papers (Kannada and English) which are that of SSLC or Class 10 level.

All seven papers are compulsory i.e. from paper III to Paper IX.

Only the marks secured in compulsory papers and in interview will be taken into account for the final ranking.

Written and Personality test marks will be declared along with the final selection list.

The candidates who are selected in the final selection will be recruited for various administrative posts at the district and state level. Initially, they will join as Sub-Divisional Magistrate and will go to different level like Additional District Magistrates and then on promotion to IAS they will take up as Deputy Commissioners at the district level and also IAS cadre jobs at the state level just similar to the IAS Officers.